Philodendron White Knight Care – A Must Read Guide In 2022
Philodendron White Knight Care: The philodendron White Knight is an exquisite plant. It is also a rare and highly sought-after species. This philodendron is a rare and highly sought-after plant due to its stunning white leaves and unusual purple and brown stems.
This beauty is a houseplant that you have. I can help you care for it and keep them healthy.
Philodendron White Knight Origin
The philodendron white Knight is a South American native that was first harvested in recent years for international export.
It is abundant where it grows. The price of this plant has risen dramatically due to the popularity of Instagram videos that are magazine worthy. A white knight can be purchased for $250 to $600 depending on its size and maturity.
Philodendron White Knight care
To keep your white knight happy, you need to imitate its natural environment as much as possible.
We’re talking about a tropical canopy. What do these plants love most? Heat, humidity, and indirect lighting.
Light
The leaves of the white philodendron white knight are extremely sensitive to direct sunlight and can burn quickly under indirect light.
This plant is best suited for indirect, bright sunlight. This mimics the sun’s rays through the canopy of South American forests.
It is important to not place it in direct sunlight. After 2-3 months, the leaves of the philodendron white Knight will turn back to their original colour.
If the plant is left in darkness for too long, it can be difficult to get it back to its white beauty.
It can be difficult to understand light requirements. After all, what is the difference between bright and indirect light? A light meter is one way to resolve this problem.
The best way to measure light intensity in a space is with light meters. Keep this plant in 200-400FC (foot-candles) for optimal growth.
Anything below 200FC is too risky and can lead to stunted growth.
Soil
The beautiful philodendron white Knight thrives in well-drained, moist soil. It usually contains coco coir with organic materials like perlite, activated carbon, worm castings, and orchid bark.
This tried-and-true formula will help you create your mixes.
- 40% coco coir
- 20% orchid bark
- 15% Perlite
- 10% activated charcoal
- 10% worm castings
- Optional: 5% pumice
A well-drained potting soil means that water is easily emitted from the soil. It doesn’t hold on to it which can lead to a host of problems, such as root rot and erwinia. Both nasty bacterial infections.
You can either make your mix or buy a ready-made mix of philodendron or monstera soil.
Philodendron White Knight Watering
The white knight philodendron likes to have its soil evenly moistened, so it is more of a water lover. However, you can still water it as often as you want.
Instead of following a rigid watering schedule, look for signs that your plant needs watering.
You can do it the best and most accurately by putting a wooden or chopstick into the soil, away from the roots. After 30-60 minutes, you can pull it out and see what you see.
Different soil moisture levels create water lines on the stick. This makes it easy to see how dry or wet your soil is.
- Wet soil will make the stick very dark and soil particles will stick to it.
- The stick will take on a darker hue if it is covered with moist soil. However, this will not be noticeable. The stick will not be affected by soil.
- The stick colour will not change if the soil is dry.
You will only water your white knight philodendron if the top 1″ (3 cm) of potting soil has dried.
Philodendron White Knight Temperature
The philodendron White Knight is a tropical plant that loves warmth and humidity. Keep your plant in an area where it can maintain a temperature of 65F-80F during the day or 18deg-26degC at night.
This plant can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures at night (which is what usually happens in a home).
However, temperatures should not drop below 55 degrees F (12 degrees Celsius) as this can cause stunted growth over time and a loss in that beautiful white variegation.
Philodendron White Knight Humidity
It’s no surprise, considering its origins, that the white knight prefers high humidity levels; 70% and higher.
If you lower this level, you will likely not see any growth and may experience discolouration of leaves and drooping branches. It will look dead.
To check the humidity levels in your home, you can use a digital humidifier.
These are simple ways to improve humidity in your home.
- The white knight should be kept in a naturally humid place, such as a. Bathroom (as long your bathroom receives enough sunlight).
- Use a small humidifier
- You can group other tropical plants. If you have several tropical houseplants, it is a good idea to group them. This will help them share the humidity through transpiration.
Philodendron White Knight Fertilizer
It is vital to fertilize your houseplants. They have no natural source of organic matter, unlike their outdoor counterparts.
Your white knight will likely have absorbed all of the nutrients from its potting soil over time. Fertilizer is a fertilizer that adds nutrients to the soil, such as calcium, potassium and nitrogen.
What Fertilizer Do I Use With My Philodendron White Knight’s?
Dyna grow pro is a great product that I use for most of my houseplants. This premium, complete formulation contains all 16 necessary macro-and micronutrients for your plants.
It is a liquid fertilizer with low residue salts, such as urea. Large amounts of urea can cause root damage.
How to Fertilize your Philodendron White Knight Using a Liquid Fertilizer
It is not a common practice to fertilize your houseplants after you water, but it can make all the difference.
Wild plants get nutrients in steady streams over time, rather than one large gulp. This mimics the plant’s natural feeding habits.
You can dilute 1 teaspoon of liquid fertilizer in 1 gallon (4.5 L) of water. Instead, you can use this ratio to dilute 1/4 teaspoon of fertilizer to 1 Gallon (4.5 L) of water. Then, continue to use the same solution as before.
This method is unlikely to cause root pain.
What Nutrients should I look for in a Fertilizer?
You’re looking to find the 3 most important nutrients: phosphorus and nitrogen.
Nitrogen promotes beautiful foliage growth,
Secondary nutrients like calcium and magnesium, as well as micronutrients like iron and zinc, will need to be added.
High-quality fertilizers or complete formulas such as Dyna grow pro will include most of these if any.
Can I Choose an Organic Fertilizer Instead?
Yes!
Seaweed extract and liquid kelp are other eco-friendly options. They also help improve soil structure.
What can I choose between slow-release or granular fertilizers?
Technically you can but it’s not recommended. It is extremely difficult to determine how much food your plant has and when.
The majority of slow-release and granular fertilizers that I have seen have caused severe burns on variegated plant species like this one.
You should only use slow-release or granular fertilizers if you are committed to using them. This will be highlighted by the brand as a key product characteristic.
Philodendron White Knight: How do you Propagate Philodendron White Knight?
Want to add white knights to your collection? Stem cuttings in water or sphagnum moss are the best way to grow your white knight philodendron.
I have found that propagation in moss is more successful than in water. However, I’ve included both.
How to Propagate Stem Cuts in Sphagnum Moss
- Prepare small containers of moist, sphagnum-moss moss. It should cover the entire stem cutting.
- Select a healthy stem that has at least one node and two leaves.
- Use a pair of sharp pruning scissors to cut the stem below the node.
- Dip the tip of the stem/node in rooting hormone powder.
- Wrap the cutting with sphagnum moss. Make sure to cover any nodes.
- Place the cut with the moss in your sphagnum-moss container.
- Place the container in a warm, humid area with indirect lighting.
- Moisten the moss every week with water.
Roots should grow in 2-3 weeks. After roots develop, you can transfer your plant to a larger container with a more rich potting mix.
Keep the moss moist at all times.
#2 – How To Propagate Stem Cuts in Water
- Prepare a container of water (or tap water) and a small pot with fresh potting soil.
- Use a pair of scissors or shears to cut a healthy stem that has at least 2 leaves. Roots grow from the leaf node.
- Take out any leaves that are not completely submerged. The main ones should be kept.
- Cut the stem into the water jar, leaving the main leaves intact.
- You should start to see roots form after 3-5 weeks.
- When the roots have grown to over an inch, cut the stem and place it in the potting soil.
- Water and maintenance as usual.
Philodendron White Knight Pruning
The white knight philodendron is a robust and healthy plant.
You can only prune it when
- It is losing its white variegation (reverting).
- It is showing signs of illness or mistreatment, e.g. browning foliage
Pruning can be done in a few simple steps. Don’t cut too many branches. Never prune more than 25%.
Philodendron White Knight Repotting
Every white knight’s growth is different depending on the soil, moisture, temperature, and light conditions.
A quick way to determine if your white knight requires repotting is to look at its root system. Are its roots curving around each other? Do they shoot out from the bottom?
Sometimes, the roots may also curve upwards and emerge from the top. These signs are a sign that your plant needs to be repotted.
It’s best to repot the plant before it grows upwards or curls outside the pot. If it is not comfortable in the pot, it’s time to repot.
Choose for repotting
- A pot that is at most 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the previous pot.
- Pot with good drainage holes
- Potting soil is loosely draining and contains organic content like perlite.
Philodendron White Knight – Common Pests & Diseases
The philodendron white Knight is a plant that can withstand pests and diseases.
If they do occur, it’s most likely an aphid or mealybug infestation.
Aphids- These tiny sap-sucking insects are common on younger plants.
Mealybugs – These are strange-looking bugs. Their diet consists of the sap and plant juice from houseplants.
Both of these insects can be killed with insecticidal soap. Neem oil is the most eco-friendly.
Neem oil, vegetable oil from India, is used to repel insects.
Help! My Plant is Not Growing Well Common Care Issues With the White Knight
This section contains a mini-help section that will help you resolve common problems with your houseplant.
1 – The Leaf Tips are Turning Brown or Black
I have found that leaf tips on philodendron white knights turn brown or black due to low humidity.
To fix, try:
- Putting it in an area with higher moisture levels, such as a bathroom
- Line a tray of pebbles with water, then place the pot on top.
Pro Tip: Misting does not increase humidity, contrary to what some people believe.
2 – Leaves turning yellow
Yellowing leaves can be a sign that the foliage is either too dry or too bright.
Too much water can cause soil to become too saturated and reduce the oxygen supply to the roots. Too much sun will burn the leaves and reduce their natural colour.
How do I fix it?
- Move the plant into a spot with indirect, filtered sunlight
- Remove yellowing leaves from damaged plants using sterilized shears
- Check the potting soil for root rot. Too many roots will result in the need to remove the entire root system.
3 – Leaves have Wet Spots or PATCHES
Ah, the old Erwinia Blight disease. The erwinia virus can cause death in philodendron varieties.
Erwinia blight is a bacteria that thrives when it’s hot, humid, and wet. It can cause wet spots or lesions to develop on leaves.
Leaves can often appear mushy and wet, sometimes even see-through, if they are affected.
How do I fix it?
- This disease can be treated by removing a few leaves.
- More than one leaf, on all leaves? It’s possible to lose a plant friend.
4 – My Philodendron white Knight is Reverting. How Do I Help?
It’s quite common for white knights or white wizards philodendrons to go back to green after the genetic mutation is lost.
If you still have leaves with the stunning white variegation, there is still hope!
Use a pair of scissors or shears to trim your plant so that it reaches a stem with variegated foliage.
Removing a plant encourages genetic mutations to reappear in the next growth cycle.
Your plant can return to its original all-green state. You can only appreciate the plant as it is.
5 – My White Knight Leaves are Very Small, but They Used To Be Big
Did your plant come from a hot, humid country? The leaves will shrink as they adapt to cooler, more humid environments
Another thing to keep in mind is that you can grow the white knight philodendron outdoors, which will produce larger leaves naturally.
As your plant adjusts to new environments, this is a common occurrence
6 – Leaves appear damaged and brown
While there are many possible causes, the most important thing to look out for is a fungal infection.
Fungal infections result in browning and dried-up leaves that are almost paper-thin.
FAQ: Questions about the Philodendron White Knight
Why is the Philodendron White Knight so rare?
The philodendron white Knight is a rare aroid. This is a prized find for plant enthusiasts and collectors in the US and Europe.
Are the Philodendron White Knights Climbers?
The philodendron white Knight is a great climber. If planted outside, it will thrive when it has a bamboo/moss-covered pole or tree to support it.
Cat Toxicity – Is The White Knight Philodendron Toxic?
Yes. The white Knight Philodendron, along with many other philodendron species, is toxic to cats.
Are White Knight Philodendrons Toxic to Dogs
Yes. This White Knight is toxic to dogs. Avoid letting your dogs eat the stems or leaves of houseplants.
What is the Best Place to Put My White Knight Philodendron in?
A window facing east or west would be ideal.
Philodendron White Knight and White Princess – What is the Difference?
The philodendron sage white knight is the most striking of the two plants. It has dark purple stems or reddish stems. The white princess, on the other hand, is a climber.
Philodendron White Knight and White Wizard – What is the Difference?
The philodendron White Knight is slightly different from the philodendron White Wizard. The white knight has purple or brown stems and the white wizard has green stems.
How Can I Purchase a Philodendron White Knight?
Houseplants can be difficult to find. However, if you’re fortunate enough, you might be able to find a cutting or matured plant on Etsy.
These are also available at specialized nurseries. However, there may be a waitlist and an auction before you can get your hands on one.
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